Auckland, Friday 18 October, 2013 – DHL, the world's leading express and logistics company, has secured the support of luxury international online fashion store www.my-wardrobe.com for the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship.
I Love Ugly, (Auckland)
2012 DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship winner
In an industry coup, the luxury global online retailer has announced it will be supporting the scholarship, now in its sixth year. The winner of the scholarship will be given the opportunity to meet www.my-wardrobe.com’s UK buyers, to present their collection and receive expert advice on how best to approach key global export markets.
Designed to identify the country’s hottest up-and-coming fashion exporter and assist them in achieving international growth, the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship is open to New Zealand designers who have been exporting for less than five years.
Fay Nwokobia, Head of Asia-Pacific at www.my-wardrobe.com, says: “We’re always interested in hearing about the latest up-and-coming designers out of New Zealand and Australia, and the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship assists us in identifying new talent. We’re delighted to be able to assist these designers in making it big on the international stage, and we look forward to seeing their work.”
DHL also announced that international fashion heavyweight and Max Fashions CEO John Kelly will be joining the esteemed panel of judges which also includes fashion industry expert Margarita Robertson, founder of NOM*D and Plume, Paul Blomfield, chairman at FINZ, and Megan Wildermoth, National Strategic Account Manager (fashion and textiles) at DHL.
Ingrid Starnes, designer Ingrid Starnes (Auckland)
2012 DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship finalist
John Kelly, CEO Max Fashions says: “I am fiercely proud to be a New Zealander. We have a unique set of skills that have come out of our geographic location and the unique cultural influences our country provides. This shows in our creativity and work ethic and sets us apart in everything we do. Our design talent, as a result, is world class and has proven time and again to stand proud next to the world’s best.”
"The things that make us unique are also our biggest challenges and to be heard as a designer on the international stage takes a little luck, lots of hard work, and the right support at the right time. The DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship provides the opportunity to give that much needed support at a critical time in a designers’ career. To be part of helping providing this support is a real privilege.”
The winner of the scholarship will receive international freight to the value of NZ$10,000, as well as coaching in freight and logistics from DHL Express.
Also new this year, the two finalists will receive international freight from DHL Express to the value of $1,500 (runner up) and $500 (third place). All three finalists receive individual export mentoring and an annual membership subscription from Fashion Industry New Zealand (FINZ).
Kowtow, designer Gosia Piatek (Wellington)
2012 DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship finalist
Megan Wildermoth, National Strategic Account Manager (fashion and textiles) at DHL says: “The scholarship has been steadily gaining recognition within the fashion industry, both in New Zealand and abroad, since its inception six years ago. The involvement this year of two industry leaders, www.my-wardrobe.com and John Kelly, not only demonstrates this, but also allows DHL to facilitate relationships between the scholarship winner and key international contacts.”
Previous winners of the scholarship include I Love Ugly, twentysevennames, Lonely Hearts and Stolen Girlfriends Club.
Entrants are required to complete an official application form and submit look-books from previous collections. Applications will be judged across several categories, including ‘brand and design,’ ‘sales and marketing’ and ‘export strategy.’
Entries for the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship closed on Monday 14 October 2013.
Images c/- Sam Lee